Vehicle Seat With Function of Absorbing Volatile Substances

ABSTRACT

A vehicle seat with a function of absorbing volatile substances in an interior of a vehicle with the seat is disclosed. The vehicle seat comprises a seat frame structure, a cushioned padding member supported on the seat frame structure, and a volatile substances-absorbing member provided on a surface of the cushioned padding member which faces the seat frame structure.

REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/525,194, filed on Sep. 21, 2006, the entirety of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat which can exert afunction of absorbing any volatile substances in an interior of avehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art

Hitherto, there has been proposed a vehicle seat provided with a sheetof a nonwoven fabric to which a chemical reactive deodorant including adeodorant oxidation-decomposing is applied and which can therefore exerta function of deodorizing unpleasant odor components caused by such asthe sweat smell of a passenger, the smell of tobacco smoke, or the like(Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei. 10-327980). The nonwovenfabric sheet with the function of deodorizing is employed as a coveringmember for a seat cushion of the vehicle seat and provided so as tocover a lower portion of the seat cushion.

In the conventional vehicle seat, there is a possibility that thedeodorant will be peeled off from the nonwoven fabric sheet, resultingin losing the deodorizing function. In addition, areas of the nonwovenfabric sheet from which the deodorant is peeled off are exposed as dirtyareas, resulting in detracting from the appearance of the vehicle seat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made with a view to overcoming theforegoing problems of the prior art vehicle seat.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicleseat with a prolonged function of efficiently absorbing and eliminatingany volatile substances caused by any smell or odors in an interior of avehicle with the vehicle seat.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle seatwhich can easily provide a function of absorbing any volatile substancesin an interior of a vehicle with the seat, without modifying structuralmembers for the vehicle seat and changing the appearance of the vehicleseat.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a vehicleseat with a function of absorbing volatile substances. The vehicle seatcomprises a seat frame means, a cushioned padding means supported on theseat frame means, and a volatile substances-absorbing means capable ofabsorbing any volatile substances in an interior of a vehicle, thevolatile substances-absorbing means being provided on a surface of thecushioned padding means which faces the seat frame means.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the volatilesubstances-absorbing means comprises a sheet of a nonwoven fabric. Thenonwoven fabric may comprise an activated carbon fabric.

In the vehicle seat constructed as discussed above, the volatilesubstances-absorbing means is provided on the surface cushioned paddingmeans which faces the seat frame means, so that the volatilesubstances-absorbing means is subjected to the loading imposed by apassenger sitting on the vehicle seat, and is directly affected byair-exhaust and air-suction which are caused by repeated compression andrestoration of the cushioned padding means when the vehicle employingthe seat is traveled and subjected to vibration or the like. Therefore,the volatile substances-absorbing means can efficiently absorb andeliminate any volatile substances in the interior of the vehicle.

Moreover, the volatile substances-absorbing means can prevent thecushioned padding means from being directly contacted with the seatframe means. Therefore, there is no possibility that noise will beproduced by rubbing the cushioned padding means against the seat framemeans. In addition, the volatile substances-absorbing means is appliedonto the surface of the cushioned padding means and housed within theinterior of the vehicle seat, so that the volatile substances-absorbingmeans can easily provide the function of absorbing the volatilesubstances, to the vehicle seat, without modifying structural members ofthe vehicle seat and changing the appearance of the vehicle seat.

The seat frame means may comprise a seat frame for a seat back of thevehicle seat and/or a seat frame for a seat cushion of the vehicle seat.The cushioned padding means may comprise a cushioned padding for theseat back and/or a cushioned padding for the seat cushion. The volatilesubstances-absorbing means is provided on a surface of the cushionedpadding of the seat back which faces the seat frame of the seat back,and/or a surface of the cushioned padding of the seat cushion whichfaces the seat frame of the seat cushion.

When the volatile substances-absorbing means is applied to both thecushioned padding of the seat back and the cushioned padding of the seatcushion, volatile substances-absorbing area is increased, so that it ispossible to more effectively absorb and eliminate the volatilesubstances in the interior of the vehicle.

These and other objects and many of the attendant advantages of thepresent invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a seat back for a vehicle seataccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic rear elevation of a cushioned padding for the seatback of FIGS. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a seat back according to amodification of the seat back shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now FIG. 1, there is illustrated a seat back of a vehicle seataccording to an embodiment of the present invention. The seat backincludes a volatile substances-absorbing means 1 capable of absorbingany volatile substances in an interior of a vehicle with the seat, acushioned padding 2, a seat back frame 3, and cushion springs 4 (onlyone cushion spring 4 is shown in FIG. 1). The cushion springs 4 arestretched between a pair of spaced apart side sections 3 a of the seatback frame 3. The volatile substances-absorbing means 1 comprises asheet of a nonwoven fabric. The cushioned padding 2 is made from aresin-foamed, molded product and comprises a first section 2 a whichcorresponds to a section of the seat back of the vehicle seat on which apassenger rests when the passenger sits on the vehicle seat, and secondridge sections 2 b respectively formed at the left and right sideportions of the first section 2 a of the cushioned padding 2. Thecushioned padding 2 is supported on the seat back frame 3 and thecushion springs 4 with the first section 2 a being carried on thecushion springs 4, with the nonwoven fabric sheet 1 being sandwichedbetween the first section 2 a of the cushioned padding 2 and the cushionsprings 4, and with the second ridge sections 2 b enclosing the sidesections 3 a of the seat back frame 3.

Referring to FIG. 2, the nonwoven fabric sheet 1 is applied onto asubstantially entire area of a back surface of the first section of thecushioned padding 2 which faces the seat back frame 3, and fixed atperipheral regions of the nonwoven fabric sheet 1 to the cushionedpadding 2 by shooting H-shaped resinous clips 5.

The cushioned padding 2 which is supported to the seat back frame 3 andthe cushion springs 4 is covered with a bag-shaped covering member 6(see FIG. 1) or a bag-shaped covering member 6′ (see FIG. 3) having anopening 6 a′ in a back side thereof, and a back board 6 b′ covering theopening 6 a′, whereby an assembly comprising the cushioned padding 2supported to the seat back frame 3 and the cushion springs 4, and thecovering member 6 (6′) is assembled. Thus, the nonwoven fabric sheet 1is housed within an interior of the seat back.

As the nonwoven fabric, there may be employ any suitable nonwoven fabricas far as it is capable of absorbing volatile substances caused by thesweat smell of the passenger, the smell of tobacco smoke, the smell of apet animal, any volatile substances produced from any equipment in thevehicle, and the like. As the nonwoven fabric, there may be employed,for example, an activated carbon fabric. When a sheet of a nonwovenfabric to which a volatile substances-absorbing agent or a deodorant isapplied in order that the nonwoven fabric sheet can exert a function ofabsorbing volatile substances is employed, there is a possibility thatthe volatile substances-absorbing agent and the deodorant will be peeledoff from the nonwoven fabric sheet, resulting in losing the function ofthe absorbing or deodorizing. In addition, areas of the nonwoven fabricsheet from which the agent or the deodorant is peeled off are left asdirty areas. When the activated carbon fabric sheet is employed as thevolatile substances-absorbing means 1, such problems do not arise.Therefore, the activated carbon fabric sheet is preferably employed asthe volatile substances-absorbing means 1. A thickness of the nonwovenfabric sheet is preferably about 0.2-5 mm, and better yet about 0.4-0.6mm.

In the seat back constructed as discussed above, the nonwoven fabricsheet 1 is subjected to the loading imposed by the passenger sitting onthe vehicle seat according to the present invention, and is directlyaffected by air-exhaust and air-suction which are caused by repeatedcompression and restoration of the cushioned padding 2 when the vehicleemploying the seat according to the present invention is traveled andsubjected to vibration or the like. Therefore, the nonwoven fabric sheet1 can efficiently absorb and eliminate the volatile substances in theinterior of the vehicle.

Moreover, the nonwoven fabric sheet 1 can prevent the cushioned padding2 from being directly contacted with the seat back frame 3 and thecushion springs 4. Therefore, there is no possibility that noise will beproduced by rubbing the cushioned padding 2 against the seat back frame3 and the cushion springs 4. In addition, the nonwoven fabric sheet 1 isapplied onto the back surface of the cushioned padding 2 and housedwithin the interior of the seat back, so that the nonwoven fabric sheet1 can easily provide the function of absorbing the volatile substances,to the vehicle seat, without modifying structural members of the vehicleseat and changing the appearance of the vehicle seat.

While the embodiment of the present invention has been described inconnection with the case where the present invention is applied to theseat back of the vehicle seat, the present invention may be applied to aseat cushion of the vehicle seat. In this case, the volatilesubstances-absorbing means 1 is applied to a bottom surface of acushioned padding for the seat cushion, which faces a seat cushionframe, and fixed onto the bottom surface of the cushioned padding forthe seat cushion. Moreover, the volatile substances-absorbing means 1may be applied to both the cushioned padding of the seat back and thecushioned padding of the seat cushion. In this case, volatilesubstances-absorbing area is increased, so that it is possible to moreeffectively absorb and eliminate the volatile substances in the interiorof the vehicle.

These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art from the foregoing specification. Accordingly,it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes ormodifications may be made to the above-described embodiment withoutdeparting from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It shouldtherefore be understood that this invention is not limited to theparticular embodiment described herein, but is intended to include allchanges and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of theinvention as set forth in the claims.

1.-6. (canceled)
 7. A vehicle seat with a function of absorbing volatilesubstances, the vehicle seat comprising: a seat frame having a pair ofspaced apart side sections; cushion springs stretched between saidspaced apart side sections of said seat frame; a cushioned padding meanssupported on said seat frame; and a volatile substances-absorbing meanscapable of absorbing any volatile substances in an interior of avehicle; said volatile substances-absorbing means being applied andfixed only onto a first surface of said cushioned padding means whichfaces said cushion springs and is opposite to a second surface of saidcushioned padding means to which an occupant sitting on said vehicleseat is supported; and said volatile substances-absorbing means beingarranged so as to be spaced apart from said seat frame and sandwichedbetween said cushioned padding means and said cushion springs.
 8. Avehicle seat according to claim 7, wherein said volatilesubstances-absorbing means comprises a sheet of a nonwoven fabric.
 9. Avehicle seat according to claim 8, wherein said nonwoven fabriccomprises an activated carbon fabric.
 10. A vehicle seat according toclaim 7, wherein said seat frame is adapted to be used for a seat backof said vehicle seat and/or a seat cushion of said vehicle seat, saidcushioned padding means comprises a cushioned padding for the seat backand/or a cushioned padding for the seat cushion, and said volatilesubstances-absorbing means is arranged only on a rear surface of saidcushioned padding of said seat back which faces said seat frame of saidseat back and is opposite to a surface of said cushioned padding of saidseat back to which the occupant sitting on said vehicle seat issupported, and/or a bottom surface of said cushioned padding of saidseat cushion which faces said seat frame of said seat cushion and isopposite to a surface of said cushioned padding of said seat cushion towhich the occupant sitting on said vehicle seat is supported.
 11. Avehicle seat according to claim 8, wherein said seat frame is adapted tobe used for a seat back of said vehicle seat and/or a seat cushion ofsaid vehicle seat, said cushioned padding means comprises a cushionedpadding for the seat back and/or a cushioned padding for the seatcushion, and said volatile substances-absorbing means is arranged onlyon a rear surface of said cushioned padding of said seat back whichfaces said seat frame of said seat back and is opposite to a surface ofsaid cushioned padding of said seat back to which the occupant sittingon said vehicle seat is supported, and/or a bottom surface of saidcushioned padding of said seat cushion which faces said seat frame ofsaid seat cushion and is opposite to a surface of said cushioned paddingof said seat cushion to which the occupant sitting on said vehicle seatis supported.
 12. A vehicle seat according to claim 9, wherein said seatframe is adapted to be used for a seat back of said vehicle seat and/ora seat cushion of said vehicle seat, said cushioned padding meanscomprises a cushioned padding for the seat back and/or a cushionedpadding for the seat cushion, and said volatile substances-absorbingmeans is arranged only on a rear surface of said cushioned padding ofsaid seat back which faces said seat frame of said seat back and isopposite to a surface of said cushioned padding of said seat back towhich the occupant sitting on said vehicle seat is supported, and/or abottom surface of said cushioned padding of said seat cushion whichfaces said seat frame of said seat cushion and is opposite to a surfaceof said cushioned padding of said seat cushion to which the occupantsitting on said vehicle seat is supported.
 13. A vehicle seat accordingto claim 7, wherein said cushioned padding means comprises a firstsection corresponding to a section of a seat back and/or a seat cushionof said vehicle seat to which the occupant sitting on said vehicle seatis supported, and second ridge sections formed at left and right sideportions of said first section, said volatile substances-absorbing meansbeing sandwiched between said first section of said padding means andsaid cushion springs, and said second ridge sections of said paddingmeans enclosing said side sections of said seat frame.
 14. A vehicleseat according to claim 7, wherein said volatile substances-absorbingmeans is formed into a sheet-shape, arranged on a substantially entirearea of said first surface of said cushioned padding means, and fixed atperipheral regions of the sheet-shaped volatile-substances-absorbingmeans to said cushioned padding means.
 15. A vehicle seat according toclaim 7, further including a covering member covering said cushionedpadding means which is supported to said seat frame and said cushionsprings, whereby said volatile substances-absorbing means is coveredwith said covering member.
 16. A vehicle seat according to claim 15,wherein said covering member is formed into a bag-shape.
 17. A vehicleseat according to claim 15, wherein said covering member is formed intoa bag-shape and has an opening in a back side thereof, said opening ofsaid bag-shaped covering member being covered with a back board.